The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-15
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT,
I'm WHICH 50 PEOPLE ARE KILL
ED And 81 INJURED.
A Heavy Express Train on the Boston
aud Providence Rail-
road
LEAVES THE TRACK NEAR THE
"TIN" BRIDGE
And Rells Down an EmbankmeLt
With Di.sStrcuS and Apall.
Ing Results.

Ing kesults.
BosfoH, MAS, March 1.-THE hor
rors attending the terrible accident on
the Central Vermont railroad 1T Hart
ford, VT, have hardly had time TO be
forgotten when another accident
somewhat similnr, though 1t is TO be
hoped not so terri BILE in the lbs OF
life, occurs this time near Boston, the
scene being a new iron bridge on tha
Dedham branch OF the Providtnce
railroad, which lie known among rail-
road men as "The Tin Bridge" A.
6rst il was reported that the bridge
had given way aud the accident was
due 10 this, bat the true details can
not be asceItained. The facts SO far
as known at the pre- eat time are as
follows: As the Dsdham branch train,
which leaves Dsdham at o. o'c'ock
and which arrives ia Boston at 7:4O
o'clock, reached this bridge the rear
cars were in some way thrown from
track and piled promiscuouely down
the embankment, which at this point
is thirty or thirty Eve feet high. This
bridge crosses the marsh which Lies
bowen FOress Hill and Roslin'
dale, and is approached on
either side by entertainments which
we're fllyd in when the road was con-
e,ruc.ed. The train is one OF the larg-
Get and heaviest on the morning list.
This morning, as usual, the train Was
heavily loaded and the last three cars,
the ones that lief; the track, were filed
with passengers who had taken the
train al Dedham and the stations be-
tween there and Forest Hill. Assoon
as the accident occurred word was sent
20 the nearelt station, and from there
the superintendent was notified by
telegraph and messengers summoning
surgical assistance were sent out on
horseback.
gusaEoNs WERE AT ONCE IN ATTENDANCE
and the injured passengers received
prompt attention. In the meantime a
iorce was put to work to relieve those
who were pinned under the wreck,
and q wrecking train was made up and
at once sent to The scene. One hun
dred and fly mattresses wern obtained
40 the City Hospital and sent to the
scsDe OF the accident by special train,
which also carried large number oil
surgeons, together with friends oil the
passengers A gentleman who left the
scene at 0 O'Clock, said that when he
left some twenty bodies had been
taken from the ruins, and that two of
che persons who were injured had
been removed 10 the City Hospital,
and died after reaching there from the
effects Of their injuries. The number
OF persons injured, he says, was very
large. The bridge where the accident
occurred YVES over South street, and
the gentleman says 1t was due to
the giving way OF the structure under
the weight OF the train, owing, doubt
lees, 70 some hidden fault In the con-
struction or tho material used. The
news spread like wild Are, and people
thronged to the scene by thousands.
In a short time the place waa crowded
with people.
AN INSPECTION or THE WRECK REVEALS
che fact that the eight cars comprising
the train are jumbled into Compleo
wreck, not one OF the coaches escaping
almost perfect demolition. From the
location of the wrecked cars IL would
seem that the first three cars passed
ever the BRIDE aaiely. The structure
evidently gave way when the fourth
ear was passing over II. The five rear
cars went through TO the roadway
handing in mass of splinters in the
street. The strain OF the five falling cars
pulled the three coaches IN advance
from the rail. They remained on top
OF the embankment, but were pulled
off their trucks and the floor OF each
was forced nearly to the roof, while
the seats were jumbled together IL
great confusion. The end OF the eec'
ond coach was q mass Of splinterS
eAuaed by the car ahead grinding
against il when the three wsnt dowr
the embaukmant. The third coact
was hittened TO the ground, AZ If i
had fallen on its trucks from greA
hight, although it remained on tn,
edge OF the embankment Tn,
roof OF the fourth car also remained
on the embsnkment, having eVi
IDENTITY been shaved clean from III last
enings when the coach went through
The next four cars went down in I
heap, the smoker, which was on the
rear OF the train, falling In the mids
of the coaches, and beirg actually
ground into small spllnters. Th'
inmates of the smokers were al
either killed or injured, not one es
Gaping without injury Of some kind
Ono OF the coaches went clear acIos
the roadway, landiug against STONE
wall that bounded large field at thu
foot of hill. AS tho cars lie in thei
present location, they present PIC
ture of such absolute demolition tina
Il seems remarkable that any person
in them escaped alive. Cushions
from the sea are scattered over thu
roadway and into the adjacent pas
rurp, while car wheels and trucks ar
distributed in all dir ctions. Ia tn
mass OF splintera in tho roadway al,
pools of blood, aud occasionally poI
non Of body can be seen, although
sush connected portions of humal
remains as are found are hurrie
away 10, the mo5gue. i'll there ar
paris o. Ash to be seen sometime
fastened between timbe's, as II actual
gouged from some victim.
Conductor Tden was in the thir
car, which remained ON top Of tn
ambankmont, and on the ground, d
reclly underneath where he wa
standing when killed, is pool q
blood, while MALT OF the debris Of ths
coach is patered with blood. Ur
derne6th this en- were picked u
the breast and lungs Of a human be
ing, possibly portion of the condut
tors body.
THAT TIKI HORRORS OF FIRE
we're not added to the terrible disnste
WAS due to the ptomptness with whic
relief Was cert. The chemical engin
from Roslndals was at the ecen
within twenty minutes after the wrec
occurred, brought by letter carrie
who gsve an alarm OF are upon oil
serving flames issuing from the debri
The flames were soon exhnguishe
and the firgmsn then did exceller
work 10 resCuing the injured tn
stoves in all the cars were securely ia